Chapter 02: Sinta
Southern Lands
The young princess strolled gracefully through her secret garden, a place that was both hidden from the world yet somehow known to her. As she wandered among the vibrant blooms, her thoughts drifted like the gentle breeze that rustled the leaves around her. Her gaze fell upon the pure white roses, their delicate petals glistening in the sunlight as she walked past them. Suddenly, she paused, blinking in surprise. "When did I allow white roses to flourish in my garden?" she pondered aloud, her fingers lightly brushing against one of the soft petals. The question lingered in the air, but she didn’t truly need an answer. With a soft sigh escaping her lips, she reflected on the memories associated with those roses. "Ah, Foxie and his roses," she murmured, a hint of nostalgia coloring her voice as she recalled the playful spirit of her dear friend
Southern castle
It was a rainy night, and the castle loomed darker than usual, shrouded in an eerie atmosphere that seemed to amplify the sound of raindrops tapping against the stone walls. A silent fox, with fur as silver as the moonlight, cautiously navigated through the dimly lit halls, desperately trying to remember the way out. He didn’t think anyone would care if a silver fox wandered around the place, especially one with reddish fur around his ears. After all, he was just a creature of the night, even if he happened to have a silver necklace cleverly hidden within his thick fur.
Unbeknownst to him, the princess was silently trailing behind him, her curiosity piqued by the sight of the fox. She had witnessed him stealthily snatch her precious necklace, and instead of summoning her guards to apprehend him and lock him away, she made a fateful decision. With a flick of her wrist, she cast a spell on him, ensuring that he would never be able to leave the castle grounds. A soft, mischievous smile crossed her lips as she followed him down one of the winding staircases. She wasn’t entirely sure where he was headed, but she instinctively knew it wasn’t toward the front door, which was her primary concern.
The fox sighed lightly, feeling a strange sense of unease as he wandered through the castle’s labyrinthine corridors. He realized that he wasn’t making his way to the exit, yet he couldn’t quite understand why he felt compelled to explore deeper into the castle. It was starting to irritate him as he descended further down the staircase. Upon reaching the bottom, he paused to survey his surroundings. “Okay, this way leads outside… but to where, I have no idea,” he thought to himself, a hint of frustration creeping into his mind as he began to make his way toward the back of the castle.
Meanwhile, the princess blinked in surprise as she followed him through the shadowy back halls. She peered out of the back windows, her heart racing as she began to piece together the fox’s intentions. “Isn’t this way… Oh no, wait…” she suddenly realized just where the fox was heading: to her secret garden, the one she had kept hidden from prying eyes. It was a sanctuary filled with vibrant flowers and magical plants, a place where she could escape the pressures of royal life. (Note: At this point, Mira, the princess, was still quite inexperienced with her spells, and she had also cast a spell to conceal herself from the fox’s sight.) She shook her head, her mind racing as she contemplated a new plan to protect her cherished garden.
A sly smirk crossed the fox’s lips as he stumbled upon a door that led to the outside world. With a sense of determination, he approached the door and used his front paws to push it open. As he stepped outside, he blinked in astonishment. “A garden? Why isn’t it raining here?” he thought, his mind racing with questions as he took in the breathtaking sight before him.
The garden was a magical oasis, untouched by the storm that raged outside the castle walls. The air was fragrant with the scent of blooming flowers, and the soft glow of bioluminescent plants illuminated the space, creating an enchanting atmosphere. The fox felt a sense of wonder wash over him as he explored this hidden paradise, completely unaware of the princess’s presence lurking nearby.
“Oh no… Does my spell not work on him?” Mira thought, a soft pout forming on her lips as she watched the fox frolic through her magical garden. She felt a mix of frustration and intrigue, realizing that her spells were not as foolproof as she had hoped. Determined to protect her secret haven, she began to devise a new plan, one that would allow her to confront the silver fox without revealing her presence just yet.
As the fox continued to explore, he marveled at the beauty surrounding him, blissfully unaware of the princess’s watchful gaze. Little did he know that this encounter would change the course of both their lives, intertwining their fates in ways neither could have anticipated.
After spending several hours wandering aimlessly around the expansive garden, the fox finally let out a deep, exasperated sigh as he settled down onto the cool, damp grass. He had lost track of the door that led into the castle, and now he found himself trapped in this seemingly endless garden, unable to discover a way out. Just as he was about to unleash a frustrated scream into the stillness of the air, he heard a faint sound that caught his attention. He quickly looked around, his ears perked up, and suddenly jumped to his feet when he spotted a young girl nearby. "Shit," he muttered under his breath, surprised by her unexpected presence.
The young princess, meanwhile, let out a soft yawn, her eyes growing heavy as she watched the fox with a mix of curiosity and boredom. The rhythmic sound of the rain falling around her was lulling her into a state of drowsiness, and she found herself struggling to stay awake. Unbeknownst to her, the magical hiding spell she had cast to conceal herself from view began to fade as she succumbed to her fatigue. Moments later, she fell gently onto the soft grass, her small form nestled among the vibrant flowers, completely unaware of the fox's presence nearby.
The curious fox wandered over to the slumbering princess, taking a moment to carefully examine her delicate features. After a brief pause, he let out a soft sigh, feeling a mix of emotions as he transformed into his humanoid form. His silver locks, interspersed with vibrant red bangs, framed his striking golden eyes, which sparkled with a hint of mischief and wonder. He settled himself comfortably beneath a nearby tree, the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves above, casting playful shadows on the ground.
As he gazed at the sleeping girl, realization dawned upon him. He recognized her as Princess Mira, the very same princess who had cast spells over him, binding him to this enchanted realm. With a sense of nostalgia, he removed the silver fox necklace that he had taken earlier, holding it up to the light and admiring its intricate design. "So this princess is Mira... the one I’ve heard whispers about, known to be more childlike than her elder sister, Lyra," he mused softly to himself, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
When three hours passed, the sun started to come up as the rain stopped. The morning rays, got Mira to flinch and wake up. She sat up as she rubbed her left eye softly. "Where..." She muttered lightly before remembering last night. She looked around and blinked as she saw the fox demon sleeping against the tree. She giggled lightly before moving quietly over to him. She reached over and softly took her necklace away from him and smiled softly.
"The princess has finally awakened."
She blinked slightly as she gazed up at his face, realizing he was awake. Her deep maroon eyes met his striking golden ones for a moment before she offered a gentle smile. "Yeah, I'm not accustomed to sleeping outdoors."
He gently shook his head and let out a quiet sigh. "So, why did you choose to follow me instead of using a guard for that?"
She pondered for a moment. "You know, Foxie, I wasn't interested in getting any of them because I don't really like them, and I wanted to experiment with some spells." She then flashed a charming smile. "Also, you took my favorite necklace."
He blinked gently before giving a soft glare. "I'm Sinta, not Foxie. How can the fox necklace be your favorite when I thought you disliked foxes?"
"I don't dislike foxes; in fact, they rank among my favorite creatures. However, they can be somewhat intimidating. Soren gifted me this necklace before he departed for training," she remarked, shooting him a fierce look as she clutched the necklace to her heart.
Sinta let out a soft sigh, his breath escaping in a gentle puff. "Alright, I understand now," he said, his voice steady but laced with curiosity. "So, what exactly do you plan to do to me for taking it?" He looked at her, his eyes searching for answers, wondering what consequences awaited her for his actions. The tension in the air was palpable as he awaited her response, his mind racing with possibilities.
Mira pondered for a moment before grinning. "What if you became my first knight? You could assist me in driving those nasty guards away."
The clever fox paused for a moment, deep in thought, before finally nodding slightly in agreement. "Alright then," he said confidently. "It's a deal."
The princess smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and then gently reached up to touch his soft fox ears, feeling the delicate fur beneath her fingertips. "Even as my first knight, Sinta," she said playfully, "you won't be allowed to leave this castle for quite some time. Not until I can trust that you won't abandon me." Her voice was light, but there was an underlying seriousness to her words. She continued to caress his ears, feeling their warmth and softness, as she pondered the bond they were forming and the adventures that lay ahead for them both.
He let out another deep sigh as he gently closed his eyes, savoring the moment. "Deal..." he murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper. As she continued to caress him, he couldn't help but purr lightly in response to her touch, feeling warmth spread across his cheeks as he blushed faintly.
She let out a light, playful giggle, her eyes sparkling with delight. "I absolutely adore your ears," she exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth. After gently releasing his ears, her fingers glided down to his tail. "Ooo, this is so soft too," she said with a grin. "I love your tail just as much!"
He slowly opened his eyes, taking a moment to focus on her as she gently petted his shimmering silver tail. With a playful glint in his eye, he asked, "So, I’m guessing you have a fondness for soft things, right?"
She looked back at him, her face lighting up with a warm smile as she nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! Soft things are simply the best," she replied, her voice filled with genuine delight and affection.
Mira let out a soft sigh as she made her way over to the magnificent tree that stood proudly in the center of the garden. This tree held a special place in her heart, not solely because it was under its sprawling branches that she had made Sinta her first knight, but also because it was a stunning sakura tree. In fact, it was the only one of its kind in all the southern lands, making it even more precious to her. As she approached the tree, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. She settled down on the soft grass beneath it, gazing up at the delicate sakura leaves that danced gently in the breeze. "I’m sure Sinta will be fine with Kai... but why am I feeling this nagging worry?" she pondered aloud, her thoughts swirling.
Just then, a familiar voice broke through her musings. "Maybe it’s because he was the first fox that didn’t scare you?"
Mira turned her head and smiled softly at Soren, her friend. "Maybe you’re right, Soren. He’s still one of the only foxes that don’t frighten me. And you, of course, are one of the few dragons that don’t scare me either."
Soren shook his head slightly, a hint of exasperation in his expression as he let out a deep sigh. "Mira, I can’t turn into a dragon, let alone sprout wings. So..." He trailed off, his thoughts seemingly lost in the air, and sighed again, a touch of frustration evident in his voice. "Never mind."
Mira couldn’t help but giggle lightly at his antics. She reached up and playfully pulled him down next to her, enjoying the warmth of their friendship. "Welcome back, Soren," she said, her voice filled with affection. The two of them sat together under the beautiful sakura tree, surrounded by the gentle rustle of leaves and the sweet scent of blossoms, sharing a moment of peace and camaraderie in their enchanting world.